Central Oregon Backcountry

The Central Oregon backcountry encompasses the wild high desert lands of Crook, Jefferson and Deschutes Counties and includes landmarks such as the Oregon Badlands Wilderness, Steelhead Falls, Alder Springs and the South Fork of the Crooked River.

The Gateway to Oregon's Dry Side

The Central Oregon Backcountry is one of the most fascinating and diverse landscapes found anywhere in the United States. It is known for its world class beauty, and enjoyed for the amazing recreation opportunities including rafting, hiking, mountain biking, and climbing. With rolling plains of sagebrush, dramatic river canyons, and dense forests of old growth juniper it is easy to see why people travel from all over to enjoy this desert wonderland!

Deschutes Canyon. Photo: Gena Goodman-Campbell

Enjoy the Outdoors! Hugging the east side of the Cascade Mountain Range, the Central Oregon region serves as the gateway to the High Desert for the majority of Oregon’s residents. Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson Counties make up one of the fastest growing regions in the United States and encompass the major population centers on Oregon’s “dry side”. The beautiful scenery and wealth of open public lands have played a key role in attracting people and businesses to the area, in turn creating a strong connection between “natural amenities” and economic growth in the region.

Critical Desert Lands! Most of the desert areas in Central Oregon are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as a part of its Prineville District and are a part of the “sagebrush steppe” ecosystem, one of the most imperiled habitats in the U.S. This native habitat is crucial to sustain populations of threatened species, such as sage grouse and pygmy rabbits.